Danish-Chinese Singer Helena Gao Forges Her Own Path Between London and Shanghai

Born to Danish and Chinese parents, Helena Gao trained in classical jazz before embedding herself in the music scenes of London and Shanghai. Her bicultural background has allowed her to move fluidly between different creative worlds, and this year she has emerged as an in-demand collaborator.

Gao co-wrote and co-produced nine tracks on Zara Larsson's album Midnight Sun, which landed Larsson her first Grammy nomination. She also contributed to the Girls Trip remix album alongside Tyla, Shakira, and PinkPantheress.

In a recent conversation, Gao reflected on the invisible labor behind many artists' successes. She said that most of an artist's work occurs away from the public view, whether writing for other performers or developing her own material. She keeps her collaborative songwriting distinct from her solo practice, arguing that worrying about outside perception during creative work can hold an artist back.

Having built her career outside the mainstream Chinese pop machine, Gao has established a distinctive niche. Her time in London and Shanghai helped shape a hybrid identity, and she describes her artistic position as living in the spaces between worlds.